Karaoke machines just don't cut it and I hate having to select from the limited available tracks that come with the CDs. So, when the VOXX Electronics Singtrix appeared on my desk touting itself as "the most advanced karaoke system ever", I was weary to trust it.

Augmented and virtual reality tech is growing more popular by the minute. The difference between the two — if you don't already know — is one takes place in a completely digital world while the other merges digital elements with that of the real world. Unlike VR tech, augmented reality devices allow you to interact with the real world in unique ways.

Janet Echelman isn’t your typical artist. Far from the traditional image of a lone painter standing at her easel with only a brush and paint palette, she works in conjunction with entire teams to build enormous public art displays.

Apparently not one to “hop on the me too bandwagon” with immature, gimmicky technologies, OnePlus waited for mobile fingerprint recognition to evolve and fully bloom before it could be fitted on the “impressive, thoughtful and versatile” 2.

You might be growing weary of Samsung, HTC, LG, Huawei or ZTE’s mostly unremarkable attempts at challenging Motorola’s budget throne, but what the mid-range mobile arena still lacks are Lollipop soldiers.

Finally, in the summer of 2015, Wet Hot American Summer will get the prequel treatment in the form of eight episodes to be binge-watched on Netflix. It’s called First Day at Camp, written by the original Wet Hot screenwriters David Wain and Michael Showalter; Wain will even direct again

Weiner-Dog, the long-awaited sequel to 1996’s kooky and lovable indie gem Welcome to the Dollhouse has started shooting, which should send hearts leaping into mouths with excitement and anticipation. But allow those hearts to plummet south again, for the one nicknamed Weiner-Dog, one Heather Matarazzo, who starred as Dawn Weiner in Welcome to the Dollhouse, will not appear in it.

The first word that comes to mind when I think of Chris Squire is big. Not just for his physical size, even though he stood tall at a reported 6’5” (or more, depending on whom you ask) and had these huge hands—handy for playing bass, no doubt.

Because he has a lot going on, and maybe sometimes it just feels good to walk away from over-the-top buffoonery, Howard Stern is vacating his judges’ chair on NBC’s wildly popular Nick Cannon vehicle, America’s Got Talent. But what's next for him?

Many of Sony’s “strategic” moves regarding new product releases and old device retirements lately have made little to no sense, but in the eyes of easily pocketable flagship fans, the Japanese OEM should redeem itself soon enough with a remarkable Xperia Z4 Compact.

Before they can raise their US flagship profile with the remarkable Nubia Z9 and surprising Axon Phone, China-based ZTE will first seek to reinforce their market position in the entry-level Android niche. After all, that’s still mainly what people recognize the brand for.

The only element that really screams 1985 about William Friedkin’s underrated noir classic To Live and Die in LA is its soundtrack, heavily dosed with the melodic pop of Wang Chung. Everything else, from the strong performances from then-ingenues Willem Defoe, John Turturro, and William Peterson to the harrowing car chases which take you racing from the Los Angeles River to the wrong way on the Freeway, is timeless and more real-feeling than most of today’s Hollywood blocking magic pictures. Which is why a remake of To Live and Die in LA for TV, with Friedkin attached to direct could be interesting – if they keep it dirty and real.

The world’s first Chrome OS-powered all-in-one desktop with an optional touch display was initially announced on April 1 (no joke), but sans pricing details or precise release dates. Just a vague Q2 window for North American and Asia Pacific markets, and fairly educated guesses on our part regarding (relative) affordability.

A bigger and bigger name in the Chinese smartphone industry, ZTE has long probed the North American markets, but besides a slew of low-cost soldiers rebranded by carriers, it’s not easy coming across one of the OEM’s alluring mid to high-end gadgets.

Tablets make for some fantastic entertainment consumption devices with few limits for location. You can almost think of it as instant gratification, if you consider the widespread internet connectivity and plethora of media streaming sources available. But despite the fun and convenience, tablets can’t give you full immersion.

This little known Indian brand called iBall, in partnership with Microsoft, literally just unveiled a regional rival for the Intel Compute Stick, and already, there’s a new contender for the title of best thumb-sized PC.

Seeing as how the youngest member of Google’s Nexus smartphone family has been massively discounted via numerous retailers of late, it was only a matter of time until the newest “pure Android” tablet followed suit.

Anyone who has spent some time learning the skill of picking locks understands that a home’s locked doors are merely an illusion of security. Sufficient skills and/or the right tools is all it takes to gain entry through tumblers, sometimes in just mere minutes. I know I’ve been able to pick both locks on my front door in under 60 seconds.

Free? Upgrade? You heard correctly, but only Logitech Harmony owners will gain this benefit. The company has just announced that a few of its most popular hub-compatible products are getting a boost with smart home control capabilities.

I’ve had the opportunity to test and check out many a smart device, and I can tell you that not all Internet of Things are created equally. It’s all still kind of new - maybe more like a toddler instead of infancy - yet there is a lot of ground to cover before such products mature and hit their stride.

If you're interested in providing wireless connectivity to a variety of devices, you'll do well to keep an eye on Nyrius. I've granted Bluetooth wireless to speakers with the Songo and wireless HDMI with the Aries Home+, both of which are fantastic products and deliver. One of Nyrius' latest gadgets for the home is the Smart Switch, which brings the power of Bluetooth to an outlet.

We’re all taught to believe in the power of choice, despite the fact that it doesn’t always make our lives easier. If you’re at a water park and have to decide which slide to go on next - that’s a good choice situation. But if two of your most favorite bands are having separate concerts on the same night and you can pick only one to go see - that’s going to require some hard thinking!

If there is one thing to know about using projectors, is that the cool factor is inversely proportional with the size. Smaller projectors make the fun blast right through the roof! I find the concept to be similar to that of desktop PCs vs. laptops or even mobile devices. Tech and gadgets are far more enjoyable when they’re portable.

Sometimes the thrill of upgrading to a brand new mobile device can be tempered by that feeling of waste. It’s part of technology culture, where the latest features and powerful hardware come with the latest models. Given the marketing push behind new releases as well as discounts through mobile carriers, it’s hard not to want to trade in older devices for the new.

There are many ways, big and small, to upgrade a home to make it smarter. Things like lights, home monitoring cameras, alarm systems, and thermostats are the usual suspects. But what if you want something beyond a simple convenience or peace of mind? So then how about a smart kitchen device that encourages better eating and a healthier lifestyle?

By now, you’ve sure to have been exposed to all sorts of LED bulbs from a variety of brands. Both the standard and the wireless kind. So far, the wide majority of these offerings have been of the A19 type that goes into a traditional lamp socket. If you haven’t experienced the ultimate convenience of wirelessly controlling and/or dimming your lamps with a smartphone, you’re totally missing out.